NAVIGATIONAL INCIDENTSAnalysis, costs & cases.

02 May 2013

Capt. Yashwant ChhabraAssociate Fellow of the Nautical Institute,

Manager – Training Standards, AESM,Author – ‘A Mariners Guide to Preventing

Collisions’

Swedish Club reports: This collision led to the total loss of the bulker. When colliding, the container vessel had a speed of over 20 knots.

HM, Collision - Claim cost & frequency per vessel, till July 2012, Swedish Club.

HM, Contact - Claim cost & frequency per vessel , till July 2012, Swedish Club.

HM, Grounding - Claim cost & frequency per vessel , till July 2012, Swedish Club.

Swedish Club.

The costs for COLLISIONS & GROUNDINGS or STRANDINGS are substantial.

50% of insurance claims relate only to these categories..

Their reduction would generate substantial savings for all.

The average claim cost over the past 10 years for bulk carriers (2000 – 2010):

COLLISION: US$ 1,400,000 andGROUNDING: US$ 900,000

(Source: Swedish Club report of 2011)

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Standard P&I Club report of June 2012: Navigational Incidents & Collisions are increasing, in the last 5 years: 85 number of claims over US$ 1million; over 50% navigational; of which:COLLISIONS: 42 %GROUNDINGS: 15 %CONTACT: 32 %.(Contact - with fixed and floating objects)

An analysis of navigational accidents shows that this trend is getting worse!!A survey of 341 merchant navy officers done for workshops in 2011-12 using a quiz on collision avoidance and watchkeeping gave an overall correct score of 55.32 %. / A 2 day workshop done at NDS Kochi in Nov. 2011, results confidential, but invoked similar debates.

From 2000 to 2010, the average number ofcollisions per ship is steadily increasing,a near 50% increase.

Standard P&I Club report of June 2012

The apparent increase in incidents is not because of machinery failures – it is largely due to the human element, competency and or it’s proper application – debatable.

The biggest risk of any major navigational incident: not only can it result in fatalities and pollution but can have a substantial impact on the reputations of those concerned – end of career sometimes!!

FALLING STANDARDS? It is strongly suspected that the role of the authorities in controlling the quality of navigational training / assessments is failing. The perceived navigational competence of seafarers is doubtful. There is a need to ensure that assessments of competence are carried out before an OOW takes over bridge watch for the first time? On any vessel anywhere!!

Not fully understanding and complying with COLREGS is possibly a major cause of collisions. Though, all OOW’s have indeed got a proper certificate of competency.However, evidence from many navigational incidents, suggests that many OOW’s, including masters, appear to have a lack of understanding of or a disregard of the IRPCS (or COLREGS). (Standard P&I Club)

“Standard of competence” (STCW A-I/1):

Means the level of proficiency to be achieved for the proper performance of functions on board ship in accordance with the internationally agreed criteria as set forth herein and incorporating prescribed standards or levels of knowledge, understanding and demonstrated skill.

We move on to case studies, as much as the balance time permits – till the warning bell stops us.

Thanks your kind attention and will be happy to answer any questions.

Yashwant